|
Boulder Cave is one of the more popular tourist draws in the Naches area, with the scenic canyon carved by tiny Devil Creek as an added bonus attraction. The lower falls on Devil Creek round out the trifecta for visitors to the Boulder Cave Recreation area. However, Devil Creek Falls - the only officially named waterfall on the creek - is itself just as worthy of a visit, yet is almost invisible to the throngs of tourists who will visit Boulder Cave just half a mile downstream. The falls start off as a narrow slide that dumps over three successive ledges 5 to 8 feet tall apiece. At the bottom of the third ledge, a small tributary stream joins in and then the waters of both immediately drop over the final 57 foot fall into a dark grotto, framed by huge boulders fallen off the canyon wall, tall cedars growing out of the creek and a sapphire blue pool below. Because of the small drainage of Devil Creek, the falls lose much of its oomph by the end of June, but Devil Creek does flow all year, so there will be some amount of water no matter when it is visited.
- Devil Creek Falls is the Official name of this waterfall.
Located near Cliffdell, off Highway 410, east of Mount Rainier National Park. On Highway 410, proceed just under 27 miles east of Chinook Pass, or 4.7 miles west of the Naches Ranger Station, to Old River Road (FR 1704), signed for Boulder Cave. Follow Old River Road for 4/10 of a mile then turn left onto FR 1706. Follow FR 1706 for just over 1 3/4 miles, staying right (straight) at the major junction, to a wide sweeping lefthand curve in the road. Watch for a spur on the left leading to a sizable dirt camp area in a meadow and park here. Walk back down the road a few hundred feet and look for a faint trail climbing up the grassy open forest slope. The trail becomes much more trail-like after about 500 feet (if in doubt about which way to go, follow whatever looks like the most worn tread and stay left at the first couple of junctions) and follow the path for about 1/4 of a mile to the top of the falls, with steep trails leading to its base.
|
